Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean just kills it collection after collection. The styling is always spot on as it really doesn’t get better than impeccably tailored wax printed cottons paired with vintage-inspired tees, menswear button downs, bold jewelry and of course, silk head wraps. The combinations are outrageously cool and endless and needless to say, I’m completely obsessed.

Inspired by her Creole heritage and her upbringing in Rome, Italian-Haitian designer Stella Jean merges both cultures with traditional wax prints and modern shapes. Her spring collection has me completely consumed by wanderlust, daydreaming of traveling the world in Stella […]

So… do they give any credit (money, jobs, fair labor, the ability to participate and have voice in how their arts and crafts are used to create capital, etc) to the African tribes and cultures that they co-opt the print fabric from or is this yet another example of exploitation of African culture for consumption? Now, I’m just curious.

I agree with Chelsea, as much as I’d love to just appreciate the playful combinations of textiles and cuts, that would be totally irresponsible of me (and irresponsible of you too!). I do not think it is OK to appropriate a series of prints just to have that on-trend, “ethnic” cache. It devalues the people who have developed these techniques, not to mention the huge income disparity that this type of practice perpetuates. Please, consider the cultural messages you are sending when you put a bunch of Caucasian models in wax printed headscarves! Even the cuts of the dresses are not a far departure from traditional designs. Yes, be creative, curious, and unafraid of juxtaposition, but do it responsibly!